authoritative

4 synonyms and 4 antonyms for authoritative, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Adj — Recognised as reliable, accurate, and worth trusting because of its expertise.

Synonyms

Everyday swaps

Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.

important

Less common

Still standard English, but they carry more weight.

authorized definitive

Rare, literary or technical

Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.

authorised

Synonyms by Meaning

1. adj

Recognised as reliable, accurate, and worth trusting because of its expertise.

“This textbook is considered the authoritative guide to the subject.”

authorized authorised definitive important

Opposites

vague groundless inconclusive

2. adj

Having a commanding, confident manner that inspires obedience or trust.

“Woke is here to undermine Star Trek and Starfleet, so, in this conflict, Holly Hunter’s character manifests feminine traits instead of authoritative ones: she’s emotional, uncertain and vulnerable.”

Opposites

weak

How to use authoritative

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

authoritative source authoritative tone authoritative account

Etymology

From authority plus the suffix -ative, both ultimately from Latin auctor ("originator").

Full origin of authoritative →

Frequently asked questions

What does “authoritative” mean?

The word “authoritative” means recognised as reliable, accurate, and worth trusting because of its expertise. In plain terms, trusted as an expert source, or speaking with commanding confidence.

How do you pronounce “authoritative”?

“Authoritative” is pronounced aw-THO-rih-tuh-tihv (/əˈθɔɹɪˌteɪtɪv/ in IPA).

How do you use “authoritative” in a sentence?

Here is “authoritative” used in a sentence: “This textbook is considered the authoritative guide to the subject.”

What part of speech is “authoritative”?

“Authoritative” is an adjective.

Where does the word “authoritative” come from?

The word “authoritative” comes from Latin. From authority plus the suffix -ative, both ultimately from Latin auctor ("originator").

Is “authoritative” a common word?

“Authoritative” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.

How many meanings does “authoritative” have?

“Authoritative” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: recognised as reliable, accurate, and worth trusting because of its expertise.

People also searched

important weak authorized vague definitive inconclusive groundless

Nearby words

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